A three-year-old Asiatic black bear has been hailed a medical pioneer after becoming the first of her kind to undergo brain surgery.

Champa, who lives at a sanctuary in the mountains of northern Laos, had always stood out after she was rescued as a cub due to her protruding forehead and difficulties socialising with other bears.

When her behaviour became more erratic and her vision faded, vets and staff at the Free the Bears sanctuary, situated about 20 miles south of Luang Prabang, started to suspect hydrocephalus, or 'water on the brain', which is described as similar to having a 'constant migraine'.

Champa the bear underwent brain surgery after staff suspected she was suffering from a condition which is like having a 'constant migraine'

Champa's operation took six hours and was carried out by an Edinburgh Zoo vet

Staff from Free The Bears say Champa is already showing signs of improvement since the procedure

While in most Western countries an animal with the condition would be put down, the strong Buddhist traditions in Laos, and the technicalities of its wildlife protection laws, meant this was not an option, the National Geographic has reported.

Champa underwent six hours of keyhole surgery, carried out by South African veterinary surgeon Pizzi, who works at the Edinburgh Zoo, in Scotland.

During the procedure, in February, the vet drilled a small hole behind one of the bear's ears and used an ultrasound probe to confirm she was hydrocephalic.

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He then inserted a thin tube into the brain and threaded it under her skin to her abdomen. It will remain in place to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid into the abdominal cavity, where it can be easily absorbed.

Matt Hunt, chief executive of Free the Bears, told National Geographic that by the following morning Champa was awake and 'looking like a very different bear'.

He said: 'There was a lot more recognition. We can't know if her vision is fully recovered, but everyone certainly believes her vision has improved.'

The Asiatic black bear lives at a sanctuary in northern Laos

Champa has spent most of her life at the Free the Bears sanctuary, situated about 20 miles south of Luang Prabang (pictured)